Page 48 of Tempest of Wrath and Vengeance

“Tessie,” he sighed. “Are you all right?”

He reached for her, helping her to her feet.

“I’m fine,” she muttered, jerking her arm from his grasp and tugging down Luka’s shirt.

He took her face in his hands, tilting her head back. She looked into dark eyes she’d once trusted with her world. When had that changed? When had she become more suspicious of him rather than believing he only wanted what was best for her?

“For the past several years I told you to be who they wanted you to be now so you could be who you were meant to be later,” he said. “It’s later, Tessie. You know your purpose. Focus on that. Let us worry about the rest.”

“Did you always know?” she asked, her tone flat and monotone.

“Did I always know what?” he asked, reaching to tuck her hair behind her ear.

“About me?”

He paused, his fingertips still in her hair. “I always knew you were meant for more, Tessie. I just needed you to believe that too.”

“But did you know aboutme?” she insisted. “My power. What I am. That I was Achaz blood and— That I was this.”

His eyes narrowed. “Do you know your lineage, Tessa?”

“Do you?”

“Only what Lord Jove knows,” he answered. “Did I always believe you were more? Yes. But I couldn’t know how much until your power was allowed to emerge. And I was right, wasn’t I?”

“I guess,” she muttered.

“So focus on your destiny, Tessa.”

“Right,” she said, eyes darting to the side.

“It’s not with them. I thought you’d accepted that.”

“I did.”

“Then start acting like it,” he said, his tone hardening once more as he dropped his hands.

She glared up at him. “Get out, Dexter.”

“Take a shower and get his scent off of you,” he retorted, striding to the door. “I’ll have breakfast waiting for you.”

She watched him walk away, the back of his white shirt more shredded than the front had been. Once he’d slammed the door shut behind him, she made her way across the room to the off-white feather on the floor. Picking it up, she ran a single finger along the soft barbs. Once. Twice.

She carried it with her into the bathroom, turning it over in her hand and studying it. It wasn’t until she was ready to get in the shower that she carefully set it aside on the countertop before undoing the few buttons of Luka’s shirt. She folded it, tucking it into the back of a linen cupboard in her bathroom. Closing the cupboard door, she felt him down the bond. Not Luka, but Theon. The same hesitant caress she’d felt the night she’d taunted him.

For whatever reason—likely to be defiant of everything Dex had just berated her for—she answered.

What?she demanded

I felt you minutes ago. Are you all right?

It’d been a few days since she’d heard his voice, and the sound of it in her mind had the bond immediately stretching and aching in a way she hadn’t experienced since that night. Sleeping beside Luka had soothed one part of it, but this other part? It would always want Theon unless she could figure out a way to sever their bond.

Tessa? Are you hurt?his voice came again, but all she could think about was Dex’s accusing words and how he was right. She was losing focus.

Correct the balance.

Fulfill her destiny.

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